Cue Card Sample
Something you borrowed from your friend or family - Cue Card # 601
- Details
- Written by IELTS Mentor
IELTS Speaking Part 2: IELTS Cue Card/ Candidate Task Card.
Describe something you borrowed from your friend or family.
You should say:
- what you borrowed
- when you borrowed it
- whom you borrowed it from
and explain why you borrowed it.
[You will have to talk about the topic for one to two minutes. You have one minute to think about what you are going to say. You can make some notes to help you if you wish.]
Model Answer 1:
Thank you for this chance to discuss something I borrowed from a friend or family member. I believe that borrowing items from loved ones can often signify trust and reliance on their support. One such instance stands out vividly in my memory, which I am eager to share with you today.
Several months ago, I found myself in need of a reliable camera for a special photography project I was undertaking. Unfortunately, at the time, I did not own a high-quality camera that would meet the requirements of the project. Understanding my predicament, I turned to my cousin, Samia, who is an avid photographer and owns an impressive DSLR camera.
Samia graciously offered to lend me her camera for the duration of my project, understanding the importance of having the right equipment to capture the desired images effectively. I borrowed her camera for approximately two weeks, during which I used it extensively to capture the intricate details and nuances of the subjects I was photographing.
I borrowed the camera from Samia because I knew that she possessed top-notch equipment that would enable me to produce high-quality photographs for my project. Moreover, I trusted her to lend me the camera responsibly, knowing that she valued her equipment and would expect me to take good care of it.
Borrowing Samia's DSLR camera proved to be a pivotal decision that significantly enhanced the outcome of my photography project. Her generosity and willingness to lend me her valuable equipment exemplified the spirit of support and camaraderie that exists within our family.
Model Answer 2:
I have always remained a very vocal “opponent” of borrowing anything from anybody either because it would put a question mark on my “financial ability” or present me as a “miserly” person to others. But, necessity knows no bounds, and I also needed to borrow something, a scientific calculator that is, from one of my distant relatives.
It was about 6 years ago, when I was still a high school student, and I was eagerly waiting to get over with my final term examination. Everything was going well as I was finishing taking one test after another until the day to appear for the “Trigonometry” test had arrived. As usual, I was ready to get out of my house and hit the road in order to take part in the “Trigonometry” test.
But, unfortunately, just when I was checking my calculator for the last time to make sure it was in good working condition, I found out to my extreme “horror” that it wasn’t working at all! I checked the battery (which I had put only the previous month) and everything else by pushing all the “buttons” one after another, but it just wouldn’t switch on. So, I immediately decided to run to a nearby local store in order to buy the same kind of calculator, but all I could expect there was some “huge disappointment” as it didn’t have any scientific calculator to sell.
At this point, I felt very “helpless”. But, just when I was about to give up my hope to get a calculator, I thought of asking one distant math teacher relative of mine to rescue me. And, what a rescue it really was!
Anyway, I needed to borrow the calculator because travelling to different stores one after another, without actually knowing which store was selling that type of calculator, would surely make me late for my test. I had to borrow the scientific tool also because, without it, I couldn’t really do much in my “Trigonometry” test as far as the issue of getting a good grade was concerned.
Model Answer 3:
I would like to thank you for the opportunity you have given me to talk about something I once borrowed from a friend or a relative. To be honest, I can recall many such events when I had to turn to a friend or family member for something I required. However, for this topic, I will talk about an event when I borrowed two thousand dollars from my father.
Just after finishing college, I, along with two of my friends, planned to start a small business. It was 2018 and I was convinced to be a partner of the proposed business and that's why borrowed the money from my father. Besides my university, I got serious about our new venture and I had been able to return the money within a year that I took from my father as a loan. When I returned the money to my father, he seemed surprised and I explained how our interior design venture is flourishing day by day. He told me that he was quite astonished that our little enterprise eventually saw the light of success.
I thanked him for the money and explained how we worked together to make it a success. I also showed my gratitude and mentioned that without his money, I could not have been a part of this business.
Numerous times, I borrowed books, laptops, music players, money, CDs and so on from my friends and relatives but the two thousand dollars that I took from my father was something quite different and I am lucky that I decided to borrow it from my father for a good reason which is eventually paying off.
Model Answer 4:
Once upon a time, amidst the flurry of daily life, I found myself in a predicament that required a quick solution. I had long been intrigued by the art of baking, and an upcoming family gathering provided the perfect opportunity to showcase my newfound skills. However, as the event drew nearer, I realized with dismay that I lacked one crucial tool: a stand mixer. Thank you very much for this topic and I will share with you this even today.
With time ticking away and my baking aspirations hanging in the balance, I turned to my dear friend, Emily, who was known for her well-equipped kitchen. Knowing that Emily possessed a sturdy stand mixer, I hesitantly approached her with a humble request. To my relief and delight, Emily readily agreed to lend me her prized appliance, understanding the importance of my baking endeavour.
Armed with Emily's stand mixer, I delved into the world of baking with renewed enthusiasm. Over the course of the next few days, I experimented with various recipes, mixing batter and kneading dough to perfection. Emily's stand mixer proved to be an indispensable ally, effortlessly blending ingredients and streamlining the baking process.
As the day of the family gathering arrived, I proudly presented an array of freshly baked treats, each one a testament to the power of friendship and the generosity of lending. With Emily's stand mixer by my side, I transformed simple ingredients into delectable delights, earning praise and admiration from my loved ones.
In the end, my borrowing of Emily's stand mixer not only saved the day but also sparked a newfound passion for baking within me. The memory of that borrowed appliance serves as a reminder of the kindness and support that can be found in the most unexpected places.
Sample Answer 5:
Once I had to borrow a history textbook from one of my friends and I would like to talk about this event. I am an undergraduate student and I took the History of Ancient Civilizations course in my fourth semester. I needed the book as I lost mine and needed to get some information to complete an important assignment.
I borrowed the book “History and Our Footsteps” from Hien Long. He is a good friend of mine and lives near my residence. He is a helpful person and lent me the book though he needed it for the same purpose. I was happy to have the book and Long also was delighted that he could help me.
I needed the book urgently to get some information to prepare an assignment that I was due to submit in a week. Unfortunately, I lost my book and did not know how it was lost! If I failed to submit the assignment, it might have been difficult for me to pass the course. As I remember, it was a comparatively easier assignment and took only a few hours for me to complete but I could not have done it without having the textbook as a reference.
I knew that I would require the book to complete the assignment but I could not buy it right then. So, I sought help from Long as he lived nearby. I asked him to lend me the book and I promised to return it the next day. He was supportive enough and came to my home with the book and then I completed the assignment. I thanked him heartily for his genuine help.
Idea generating:
Cue Card Topic: Describe something you borrowed from your friend or family.
1. Before going to the office last Monday, I needed to have some change to pay the bus fare. But I could not manage it and lent some coins from my mom. In fact, it is hard to get a change of a large banknote in New Delhi and my mother was happy to offer her help.
2. I was supposed to go to a birthday party in my town last November but I could not find my necktie. So I borrowed that from my dad. It was not unusual for me to borrow something from my dad but when I borrowed the necktie from him, I realised how important it is for me to be more careful about my wardrobe.
3. Usually, I do not borrow things from others but I had to break the rule last month. During a tutorial exam at my university, I had to borrow a pen. Actually, my pen ran out of ink and I did not have a spare one to complete the exam. I was relieved when Martha lent me one of her pens.
4. Smokers have rules worldwide. They do not hesitate to exchange cigarettes. I borrowed a cigarette from a friend cum colleague several times. I am an IT professional in Cordova, Spain and actually forgot to buy my cigarette pack that day.
5. My phone drained all the charges a few days ago and only then I remembered about an important phone call that I was supposed to make! So, I borrowed my dad’s phone. Putting my phone in charge, I lent the phone and met the emergency.
6. I love to play badminton and this is a popular sport in Japan. I had to borrow a badminton bat from a friend of mine as I had broke mine the day before. It was a sad event for me because that was my favourite sporting tool. When my friends lent me his bat, I was a bit relieved.
7. Nicholas lent me his paint sprayer because I needed that to paint my kitchen. I have recently rented a small apartment in Leeds and it is located on the 8th floor of a residential complex. So when I wanted to decorate the house, I needed the paint sprayer to renovate the kitchen. Nicholas saved me from buying an expensive sprayer on that day.
8. Last semester, I had to attend a formal presentation at my college and to do so, I borrowed a formal suit from Robin - my best friend. In fact, we all were told to wear formal attire on that day and mine was left at home in New York. So, I needed to borrow one for the presentation.
Your preparation for this cue card topic would help you talk about the following topics as well:
1. Describe something you borrowed that was useful to you.
2. Describe an item you borrowed from one of your neighbours.
3. Describe a gift that one of your family members gave you.
4. Describe a situation when someone you know helped you.
5. Describe an item you do not have but would like to have.
6. Describe a time when you rented or hired an item.
7. Describe something you own but do not use much.
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